Barkley says Warriors still a flawed team even with Durant

NEW YORK (AP) — Charles Barkley didn't want Kevin Durant to join
the Golden State Warriors and isn't sure Durant changes things
now that he's there.

In Barkley's mind, the Warriors are still a flawed team.

"Let me say this: I still think they got some of the same issues
this year with that team," Barkley said Tuesday.

"Can they rebound the ball? They're going to still be shooting
jumpers. They're not going to get any low-post scoring. Can that
type of play hold up through the rigors of the NBA playoffs? I'm
still going to say the same thing I've always said: No."

The Warriors won a record 73 games in the regular season but blew
a 3-1 lead in the NBA Finals and lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Golden State then signed Durant, the former NBA MVP, in the
offseason.

That's made the Warriors the favorites to regain the title they
won in 2015, though Barkley said they were "lucky" then because
their road was filled with teams weakened by injuries. Cleveland
was already without Kevin Love in those Finals and lost Kyrie
Irving near the end of Game 1.

The Cavs were healthy last year, and Barkley picked them to beat
the Warriors.

"When I told you they couldn't play that little small ball and
win a championship if everybody they played was healthy, that
they'd wear down, and they did. I told you Cleveland was going to
beat them and they did," Barkley said during a lunch before TNT's
"Inside the NBA" studio team was elected to the Broadcasting Hall
of Fame.

Barkley and the team will host their show Tuesday night in
Cleveland outside Quicken Loans Arena, where the Cavaliers will
receive their rings before facing New York in their season
opener. The Warriors will play San Antonio in the nightcap of
TNT's doubleheader.

Barkley, a Hall of Fame player who never won a championship, was
disappointed that Durant left Oklahoma City for an easier chance
at a title with the star-studded Warriors, who have two-time MVP
Stephen Curry and fellow All-Stars Klay Thompson and Draymond
Green.

If they win, Barkley said, the title won't mean as much to Durant
as it would have in Oklahoma City, where he had played since the
Thunder franchise moved from Seattle in 2008 after his rookie
season. Durant has been booed in rival arenas since his decision
and has angered some of his former fans with what appeared to be
criticisms of Russell Westbrook and his former team.

"He's made himself a villain by taking all these shots at
Oklahoma City for no reason. There's no reason for that," Barkley
said. "He left, he's happy, shut up. When you're taking shots at
Russell and those guys, that's not necessary."